Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 32
Chapter 230: शकुनानि (Śakunāni) — Omens
सीमान्तमभ्यन्तरिता विज्ञेया निष्फला द्विज एकद्वित्रिचतुर्भिस्तु शिवा धन्या रुतैर् भवेत्
sīmāntamabhyantaritā vijñeyā niṣphalā dvija ekadvitricaturbhistu śivā dhanyā rutair bhavet
ହେ ଦ୍ୱିଜ! ଘର/ପ୍ରାଙ୍ଗଣର ସୀମାଭିତରୁ ଶୁଣାଯାଉଥିବା ପକ୍ଷୀର ଡାକକୁ ନିଷ୍ଫଳ ବୋଲି ଜାଣିବା ଉଚିତ। କିନ୍ତୁ ଏକ, ଦୁଇ, ତିନି କିମ୍ବା ଚାରିଥର ଶୁଣାଗଲେ ସେହି ଡାକ ଶୁଭ ଓ ଧନ୍ୟଫଳଦାୟକ ହୁଏ।
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Gṛha-śakuna: interpreting bird-calls heard within/without the household boundary to decide whether an omen should be acted upon (travel, purchase, ritual timing).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Gṛha-sīmāntara-śakuna: Bird-call count and auspiciousness","lookup_keywords":["sīmā","śakuna","pakṣi-ruta","ekadvi-tri-catur","gṛha-antaḥ"],"quick_summary":"A bird-call heard from within the house-boundary is generally non-result-bearing; if the call is distinctly heard 1–4 times, it is treated as auspicious and wealth-bringing."}
Concept: Nimitta-śāstra: meaning arises from context (inside/outside boundary) and measurable repetition (call-count).
Application: Before initiating an act, verify the omen’s locus and repetition; disregard ‘fruitless’ signs to avoid anxiety and indecision.
Khanda Section: Śakuna-śāstra (Omens and Auspicious Signs)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A house-compound with a visible boundary line; a bird calling from inside the courtyard while a brāhmaṇa householder counts the calls on his fingers and notes the omen.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vibrant colors, a traditional Kerala nalukettu courtyard with a bird perched on a beam calling; a brāhmaṇa in white mundu counting 1–4 on fingers near the threshold line, auspicious motifs, minimal shading.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on the house threshold and auspicious kolam, a bird mid-call inside the compound, the observer with palm-leaf note, rich reds and greens, ornate border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework, instructional feel: boundary marked, arrows indicating ‘inside’ vs ‘outside’, four small call-marks, calm domestic setting.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtyard architecture, bird on lattice, scholar counting calls, fine textiles, marginal notes indicating 1–4 auspicious, beyond fruitless."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sīmāntamabhyantaritā → sīmāntam + abhyantaritā; caturbhistu → caturbhiḥ + tu; rutair bhavet → rutaiḥ + bhavet (visarga/sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Śakuna-śāstra sections on bird-omens and sound-omens (ruta-śakuna); Agni Purana nimitta rules for directions and thresholds
FAQs
It gives a śakuna (omen) rule: a cry heard from inside the property boundary is treated as ineffective, while hearing a cry counted as 1–4 calls is taken as auspicious and prosperity-indicating.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical decision-tools like omenology (śakuna-śāstra), detailing how everyday signs (direction/location and count of calls) are interpreted for auspicious timing and outcomes.
It frames auspiciousness (śiva, dhanya) as discernible through ordered signs, encouraging mindful action—undertaking rites or tasks when omens are favorable and avoiding anxiety over signs deemed niṣphala (non-result-bearing).